The road to March Madness is heating up as 31 NCAA Division I men’s basketball conferences begin their championship tournaments. These events, spanning from early March through mid-March, will determine automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, adding a layer of excitement and unpredictability to the bracket selection process. From the America East to the Western Athletic Conference, each tournament offers a unique path to the Big Dance, with varying formats and competitive landscapes.
The conference tournament season is a critical juncture for teams on the bubble and those looking to secure their place in the 68-team field. Automatic bids are guaranteed to each conference winner, regardless of their regular-season record or NET ranking. This creates high-stakes matchups and opportunities for Cinderella stories to emerge. Understanding the schedule and locations of these tournaments is key for college basketball fans eager to follow the action.
Here’s a breakdown of the key dates, locations, and broadcast information for each of the 31 Division I men’s basketball conference tournaments, as of March 12, 2026:
America East Conference Tournament
The America East tournament began with quarterfinals on March 7th, followed by the semifinals on March 10th. The championship game is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on March 14th and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Higher seeds will host games throughout the tournament.
American Athletic Conference Tournament
The American Athletic Conference tournament kicks off with the First Round on March 11th, followed by the Second Round on March 12th, and Quarterfinals on March 13th. The Semifinals are set for March 14th, culminating in the Championship game at 3:15 p.m. On March 15th, broadcast on ESPN. The tournament will be held in Birmingham, Alabama.
Atlantic 10 Tournament
The Atlantic 10 tournament begins March 11th with the First and Second Rounds, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 13th and Semifinals on March 14th. The Championship game will be played on March 15th at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, taking place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
ACC Tournament
The ACC tournament starts with the First Round on March 10th, followed by the Second Round on March 11th, Quarterfinals on March 12th, and Semifinals on March 13th. The Championship game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on March 14th and will be broadcast on ESPN. The tournament will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.
ASUN Conference Tournament
The ASUN Conference tournament began on March 4th with the First Round, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 6th, Semifinals on March 7th, and the Championship game on March 8th at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Jacksonville, Florida, with Queens (NC) also hosting games.
Big 12 Tournament
The Big 12 tournament begins March 10th with the First Round, followed by the Second Round on March 11th, Quarterfinals on March 12th, and Semifinals on March 13th. The Championship game is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on March 14th and will be broadcast on ESPN, taking place in Kansas City, Missouri.
Big East Tournament
The Big East tournament’s First Round begins on March 11th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The tournament is being held in New York City.
Big Sky Tournament
The Big Sky tournament started with the First Round on March 7th, followed by the Second Round on March 8th, Quarterfinals on March 9th, Semifinals on March 10th, and the Championship game on March 11th at 11:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Boise, Idaho.
Big South Tournament
The Big South tournament began on March 4th with the First Round, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 6th, Semifinals on March 7th, and the Championship game on March 8th at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Games are being played in Johnson City, Tennessee, with High Point also hosting.
Big Ten Tournament
The Big Ten tournament starts with the First Round on March 10th, followed by the Second Round on March 11th, Third Round on March 12th, Quarterfinals on March 13th, and Semifinals on March 14th. The Championship game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on March 15th and will be broadcast on CBS, taking place in Chicago.
Big West Tournament
The Big West tournament begins with the First Round on March 11th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Henderson, Nevada.
CAA Tournament
The CAA tournament started with the First Round on March 6th, followed by the Second Round on March 7th, Quarterfinals on March 8th, Semifinals on March 9th, and the Championship game on March 10th at 7 p.m. ET on CBSSN. The tournament is being held in Washington, D.C., with Hofstra hosting.
Conference USA Tournament
The Conference USA tournament begins with the First Round on March 10th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 11th and 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN. The tournament is being held in Huntsville, Alabama.
Horizon League Tournament
The Horizon League tournament began with a Play-in game on March 2nd, followed by the First Round on March 4th, Second Round on March 8th, Semifinals on March 9th, and the Championship game on March 10th at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Wright State is hosting the first three rounds, with the final two rounds in Indianapolis.
Ivy League Tournament
The Ivy League tournament Semifinals are scheduled for March 14th, with the Championship game on March 15th at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Ithaca, New York.
MAAC Tournament
The MAAC tournament began with the First Round on March 5th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 6th and 7th, Semifinals on March 8th, and the Championship game on March 10th on ESPN/ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with Siena hosting.
MAC Tournament
The MAC tournament Quarterfinals are scheduled for March 12th, followed by the Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Cleveland, Ohio.
MEAC Tournament
The MEAC tournament Quarterfinals are scheduled for March 11th and 12th, followed by the Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Norfolk, Virginia.
Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
The Missouri Valley Conference tournament began with the First Round on March 5th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 6th, Semifinals on March 7th, and the Championship game on March 8th at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports. The tournament is being held in St. Louis, with UNI hosting.
Mountain West Tournament
The Mountain West tournament begins with the First Round on March 11th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. The tournament is being held in Las Vegas.
Northeast Conference Tournament
The Northeast Conference tournament Quarterfinals are scheduled for March 4th, followed by the Semifinals on March 7th, and the Championship game on March 10th at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. The tournament is being held with higher seeds hosting.
Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
The Ohio Valley Conference tournament began with the First Round on March 4th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 5th, Semifinals on March 6th, and the Championship game on March 7th at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Evansville, Indiana, with Tennessee State hosting.
Patriot League Tournament
The Patriot League tournament began with the First Round on March 3rd, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 5th, Semifinals on March 8th, and the Championship game on March 11th. Higher seeds are hosting games throughout the tournament.
SEC Tournament
The SEC tournament begins with the First Round on March 11th, followed by the Second Round on March 12th, Quarterfinals on March 13th, Semifinals on March 14th, and the Championship game on March 15th at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The tournament is being held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Southern Conference Tournament
The Southern Conference tournament begins with the First Round on March 6th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 7th, Semifinals on March 8th, and the Championship game on March 9th at 7 p.m. ET. The tournament is being held in Asheville, North Carolina, with Furman hosting.
Southland Conference Tournament
The Southland Conference tournament begins with the First Round on March 8th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 9th, Semifinals on March 10th, and the Championship game on March 11th at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with McNeese hosting.
SWAC Tournament
The SWAC tournament begins with the First Round on March 9th, followed by the Second Round on March 10th, Quarterfinals on March 11th and 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 14th at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The tournament is being held in Atlanta.
Summit League Tournament
The Summit League tournament began with the Opening Round on March 4th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 5th and 6th, Semifinals on March 7th, and the Championship game on March 8th at 9 p.m. ET on CBSSN. The tournament is being held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with North Dakota State hosting.
Sun Belt Tournament
The Sun Belt tournament began with the First Round on March 3rd, followed by the Second Round on March 4th, Third Round on March 5th, Fourth Round on March 6th, Quarterfinals on March 7th, Semifinals on March 8th, and the Championship game on March 9th at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN. The tournament is being held in Pensacola, Florida, with Troy hosting.
West Coast Conference Tournament
The West Coast Conference tournament begins with the First Round on March 5th, followed by the Second Round on March 6th, Third Round on March 7th, Quarterfinals on March 8th, Semifinals on March 9th, and the Championship game on March 10th at 9 p.m. ET. The tournament is being held in Las Vegas, with Gonzaga hosting.
WAC Tournament
The WAC tournament begins with the First Round on March 11th, followed by the Quarterfinals on March 12th, Semifinals on March 13th, and the Championship game on March 15th at 12 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The tournament is being held in Las Vegas.
As these tournaments unfold, the stakes will only increase, with each game bringing teams closer to securing their place in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The coming weeks promise thrilling competition and unforgettable moments for college basketball fans across the nation.
Stay tuned for updates as these tournaments progress and automatic bids are awarded. Be sure to check back for further coverage and analysis as the bracket begins to take shape.
